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Importance of Good Social Conduct

The first thing in the Guidance brought to mankind by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) was the Call to Faith and Divine Unity. After it, he used to give instruction and advice concerning the moral and practical spheres of life to those who had accepted the Call.

These teachings of the Prophet (S.A.W.) can basically, be divided into two parts. The first part is related to the rights of Allah. It tells what the claim of Allah is upon the believer and what the duties of the believer are in that regard, and how this claim should be discharged and how the obligations are to be fulfilled.

The second part consists of the teachings related to the rights of men on each other, and the duty they owe to all created beings in general. How man is to fu If ii his social responsibilities and act towards all individuals or groups or any other creature with whom he may come into contact in the different walks of life.

The question of the rights of Men is more important in the sense that if we disregard them, i.e. infringe on rights of anyone or do some other injustice to him, then Allah has not kept the forgiving of it in His own hands but has declared that amends are to be made for it in this life by referring back to the person we have sinned against and to give him his due or to seek his pardon, otherwise we will have to repay him in the hereafter, which indeed, will cost us very dearly.

In a hadith, narrated by Abu Hurairah (R.A.) the Prophet (S.A.W.) says: "Whoever may have done an injustice to a brother, or defamed him or transgressed against his rights in any other way should set right the affair with him on this very day, in this very life - before the day of Judgement - when he will have no dinars and dirhams (money) to settle the claim. If he will possess a stock of good deeds, the aggrieved will be recompensed from it in relation to the injustice done to him. And in case he is empty-handed in the matter of good deeds, the sine of the aggrieved will be thrust upon him. (thus justice will be done that Day)."

In another hadith, Ayesha (R.A.) reports that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said, "The books of deeds (in which the sins of the people are recorded) will be of three kinds. Firstly, the one that will never be forgiven, and it is Polytheism (Shirk). Allah has declared in Holy Qur’an that, in no case shall He forgive the sin of Polytheism. Secondly, that which Allah will not pass over without doing justice. These are the mutual wrongs, injuries and violations of rights, and Allah will surely have them repaid. Thirdly, the sins which are of little weight and importance in the sight of Allah. These are the lapses that are, exclusively, between the believer and the Creator; the decision concerning them is wholly in His hands and He will punish or forgive the sinners as He likes.

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Source: THE ISLAMIC SCHOLAR